It's a turf job ... but UEFA's gotta do it!

Chris Page

Football chiefs have been forced to fly in replacement turf for Euros tournament as conditions take its toll.

A replacement pitch is set to be jetted in from the Netherlands after UEFA confirmed Lille's Stade Pierre-Mauroy will undergo emergency repair following the Republic of Ireland and Italy's clash tonight.

Rain, humidity and poor sunlight has caused problems to the turf, with players already unable to train on the pitch before the match to allow time for the playing surface to recover.

The new pitch is set to be installed by June 24 in time for a Round of 16 match on Saturday, while the stadium will also host Wales should they reach the quarter-finals.

Repair work has already been performed on the turf in Marseille and Saint-Denis, but UEFA moved to defend their pitch consultant Richard Hayden in the face of 'completely baseless criticism'.

A statement read: "UEFA wishes to express its complete satisfaction with the excellent work done by its pitch consultant Richard Hayden, and maintains its absolute confidence in his expertise.

“UEFA rejects the completely baseless criticism directed at him throughout the tournament."

It is not the first time UEFA has been forced to replaced a pitch mid-tournament, as the St-Jakob Park turf in Basel during Euro 2008 was worked on before the stadium played host to three more matches.